Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has launched a safety campaign to coincide with Mother’s Day on Sunday.

Graham Stagg, Chief Fire Officer, said: “We are also asking people to test the smoke alarms of elderly and vulnerable family members and neighbours too, especially as it is also Mother’s Day on Sunday.

“If you are visiting your elderly mother or grandmother, please make sure she has a working smoke alarm on each floor of her home.

“In Cambridgeshire we have few fire deaths but the majority of those we do have involve a person over the age of

65.

“We know that smoke alarms save lives. They can give you and your family the necessary warning to get out in the early stages of a fire, and call 999, which should in turn allow us to get to you more quickly.”

A smoke alarm should be checked once a month, cleaned twice a year and its battery changed once a year (unless it is a 10-year alarm).

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service provides free home fire safety checks for vulnerable and elderly residents. Specialist smoke alarms can also be provided for members of the community who may be deaf or suffering from a hearing impairment.